Community-Building Activities and Donations

Feeding the Community Health Care Harvest Food Drive

More than 60 tons of food. That is how much Community Medical Center employees and medical staff members have donated to Ocean County food pantries over the past eight years.

“Hunger is not seasonal,” says Tom Yanisko, Administrative Director of Hospitality Services at Community Medical Center. “Our drives are in May and June because we know that there are children who depend on free school breakfast and lunch programs to keep their bellies full during the school year. But what happens to them over the summer? We never want a child to go hungry.”

The Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Ocean County Hunger Relief and the Morning Star Presbyterian Church of Bayville were among the recipients in 2014.

“We feed between 6,000 and 7,000 people a month, 50 percent of whom are children,” says Carol Latif, Executive Director of Ocean County Hunger Relief. “The food we receive from the food drive is very high quality, and includes proteins and cans with long shelf lives that are bought directly from stores. Quality food is important in supporting proper nutrition, and encourages children and families to make healthy choices.

“We would not be able to provide families throughout Ocean County with the food they need without the support of people like Tom and donors like the staff at Community Medical Center. Making healthy food available to children in need is an important step in maintaining a healthy community,” says Carol.

Community Medical Center - Toms RiverCommunity Medical Center (CMC) is an acute care hospital offering area residents world-class medical treatment close to home. CMC offers a comprehensive array of services including, advanced cancer care, cardiac care, state-of-the-art neurology services, maternal and children’s services with a Level II neonatal care nursery for newborns requiring special care. CMC is also one of the largest providers of emergency care in New Jersey.